Sperm competition and sperm midpiece size: no consistent pattern in passerine birds
Sperm competition and sperm midpiece size: no consistent pattern in passerine birds
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DOI：
10.1098/rspb.2006.3752
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发表时间：
2007-02-22
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Birkhead, Tim R.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Immler, Simone;Birkhead, Tim R.
精子竞争被认为是推动精子形状和功能进化的主要力量。然而，以前的研究调查精子竞争的风险和精子形态之间的关系，发现不确定的结果和分类组之间的显着差异。在一项比较研究的两个家庭的雀形目（Fringillidae和Sylviidae），也跨物种属于不同的雀形目家庭，我们调查了精子形态和精子竞争的风险之间的关系的系统发育背景的相对重要性。精子竞争的风险是从相对睾丸质量作为精子生产投资的指标来推断的。我们发现：（i）在燕鸥科中，中段长度和鞭毛长度与相对睾丸质量之间存在显著的正相关关系;（ii）在西尔维科中，精子性状尺寸与相对睾丸质量之间存在显著的负相关关系;（iii）在所有物种中没有相关性。尽管显着的差异所示的模式由Sylviidae和Fringillidae，中段长度和鞭毛长度之间的关系是积极的，在两个家庭和所有物种的正异速生长。雀形目科之间的差异和相似性的原因进行了讨论。
Sperm competition is thought to be a major force driving the evolution of sperm shape and function. However, previous studies investigating the relationship between the risk of sperm competition and sperm morphometry revealed inconclusive results and marked differences between taxonomic groups. In a comparative study of two families of passerines (Fringillidae and Sylviidae) and also across species belonging to different passerine families, we investigated the relative importance of the phylogenetic background on the relationship between sperm morphometry and the risk of sperm competition. The risk of sperm competition was inferred from relative testis mass as an indicator of investment in sperm production. We found: (i) a significant positive association between both midpiece length and flagellum length and relative testis mass in the Fringillidae, (ii) a significant negative association between sperm trait dimensions and relative testis mass in the Sylviidae, and (iii) no association across all species. Despite the striking difference in the patterns shown by the Sylviidae and the Fringillidae, the relationship between midpiece length and flagellum length was positive in both families and across all species with positive allometry. Reasons for the differences and similarities between passerine families are discussed.